PHILADELPHIA | Highrise Development Thread X

[TK2001]

I was hoping to catch the colors while I was there, as the Phillies game was on at the same time. But just seeing and capturing the lights was enough, and there's plenty of years ahead to see it. Looks as if they're still testing some parts, as you see a LED strip lit up blue on top

[SEFTA]

Originally Posted by TK2001

Holy 🞵🞵🞵🞵! I'm in the city right now, and the corner lights on IBX are back on after nearly 20 years!

Independence Blue Cross Tower lighting by Philly SkyGuy, on Flickr

This is exciting. That always bothered the sh** out of me.

https://phillyyimby.com/2021/10/a-look-b...blue-cross-towers-previous-lighting.html

[towerpower123]

Originally Posted by Skintreesnail

I definitely wish more streets were Belgian block. They look nicer, especially in historic areas, provide traffic calming, help stormwater management, i thought i remember reading somewhere it's easier for utility work since they're modular and can be removed without jackhammering the street. I also assume they last longer than asphalt. Also prefer the brick or bluestone sidewalks over concrete.



Yeah the concourse is depressing. I used to hope it'd move closer to what the Toronto path is, but the pandemic probably sank any chance for that. I think i heard that it used to be more connected to the businesses that line broad Street, but they got filled in at some point.

Is the concourse really a blocker for trees though? Park ave has tracks running down it that i always assumed were shallow and there are trees down the center. Maybe they're deeper or something. If it is then yeah i think most people would rather have trees lining broad than the concourse.

The Concourse wouldn't be as terrible if it was open beyond Monday to Friday, 9-5. What the hell?

[TK2001]

Philadelphia skyline by Philly SkyGuy, on Flickr

[TK2001]

Originally Posted by TK2001

Independence Blue Cross Tower lighting by Philly SkyGuy, on Flickr

Blue Cross Tower's lighting is now running up to the top of the corners. They are also testing colors now, as I was sent a photo of it in pink and found an image on Instagram showing red white and blue

[TonyTone]

Thats a great welcomed addition to the skyline, next we need Comcast II Beacon, and it's gonna look great.

[summersm343]

CDR Submissions are up for November!
Nothing too exciting this time... just two new projects and a few be-backs:
https://www.phila.gov/departments/philadelphia-city-planning-commission/public-meetings/

[summersm343]

Susan Jacobson: Philadelphia, despite its challenges, remains a world-class city

Read/view more here:
https://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia...delphia-world-class-city-challenges.html

[summersm343]

How talent, funding and flexible workspace options are turning Philadelphia into one of America’s fastest-rising life sciences cities

Article behind paywall here:
https://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia...fastest-rising-life-sciences-cities.html

[summersm343]

Philadelphia receives biotechnology hub designation from Biden administration

Article behind paywall here:
https://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia...-biotechnology-tech-hub-biden-admin.html

[Groundhog]

Originally Posted by summersm343

Philadelphia receives biotechnology hub designation from Biden administration

Article behind paywall here:
https://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia...-biotechnology-tech-hub-biden-admin.html

Originally Posted by summersm343

Advancing Biotechnology: Precision and Prediction
• Wisconsin Biohealth Tech Hub – personalized medicine in Wisconsin
• Baltimore Tech Hub – predictive healthcare in Maryland
• Birmingham Biotechnology Hub – equitable AI-driven biotechnology in Alabama
• Greater Philadelphia Region Precision Medicine Tech Hub – end-to-end precision medicine in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and New Jersey
• Minnesota MedTech 3.0 - smart medical technologies in Minnesota and Wisconsin

What part of the Greater Philadelphia Region is in Maryland?!

[EastSideHBG]

Originally Posted by Groundhog

What part of the Greater Philadelphia Region is in Maryland?!

They are probably including Cecil County, MD, as I have seen it get pulled in depending on the source because it is a part of Wilmington's.

[PhilliesPhan]

I'm not sure if this qualifies as a highrise (at least yet), but I saw that work has resumed on the building that keeps getting inexplicably taller near 9th and Race in Chinatown. In fact, the rear of the building has been outfitted with windows. Does anyone know what this building is going to be? Last I heard, it was going to be a hotel. I swear they've been working on this building for at least a decade now!

[ok-ez]

Originally Posted by PhilliesPhan

I'm not sure if this qualifies as a highrise (at least yet), but I saw that work has resumed on the building that keeps getting inexplicably taller near 9th and Race in Chinatown. In fact, the rear of the building has been outfitted with windows. Does anyone know what this building is going to be? Last I heard, it was going to be a hotel. I swear they've been working on this building for at least a decade now!

do you mean 43-49 N 10TH ST closer to 10th & Arch? I thought it was an art school project lol. but yes visitor accommodations

[Jayfar]

Originally Posted by PhilliesPhan

I'm not sure if this qualifies as a highrise (at least yet), but I saw that work has resumed on the building that keeps getting inexplicably taller near 9th and Race in Chinatown. In fact, the rear of the building has been outfitted with windows. Does anyone know what this building is going to be? Last I heard, it was going to be a hotel. I swear they've been working on this building for at least a decade now!

Originally Posted by ok-ez

do you mean 43-49 N 10TH ST closer to 10th & Arch? I thought it was an art school project lol. but yes visitor accommodations

Yes, he must mean 43-49 N 10th St aka 932-34 Arch St. I did a deep dive exploration back in June, but I still am unclear on what’s next with this incremental decade-plus project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PhiladelphiaIndustrialHeritage/posts/3522692661352695

…a chronological presentation of Pictometry and streetviews, with a few zoning docs sprinkled in. The original conception in 2009 was for a mere 3-story overbuild of the 1-story 932 Arch St. As Dave Barry would say, I’m not making that up.

There have been signs of renewed construction activity in recent weeks.

[PurpleWhiteOut]

I think it's only 2 stories off from qualifying for a thread lol. I'd love for it to sneak up to 12 floors in the next decade or so. That project has been fascinating to see.

[TK2001]

Philadelphia skyline by Philly SkyGuy, on Flickr

Philadelphia skyline by Philly SkyGuy, on Flickr

You can see the new LED lights on IBX here

https://www.flickr.com/photos/61915488@N04/15141807483/in/faves-149628534@N08/

^ Same spot, nine years ago

[TK2001]

Speaking of IBX

Linpro Twin Towers by Philly SkyGuy, on Flickr

Linpro Twin Towers by Philly SkyGuy, on Flickr

Linpro Twin Towers and Blue Cross Tower 1988 comparison by Philly SkyGuy, on Flickr

[TK2001]

Market East by Philly SkyGuy, on Flickr

Philadelphia skyline by Philly SkyGuy, on Flickr

West Philadelphia skyline by Philly SkyGuy, on Flickr

Philadelphia skyline by Philly SkyGuy, on Flickr

Bonus

KC-135 Stratotanker refueling a F-16 26,000 feet above Philadelphia by Philly SkyGuy, on Flickr

[summersm343]

UC Townhomes is slated for demolition. Former residents say the fight to preserve affordable housing isn’t over.v

Demolition crews will begin work on the University City Townhomes site before the end of the year, according to owner IBID Associates. The last of its residents, whose planned ouster sparked a wave of protests over the decline of affordable housing in a rapidly developing part of the city, moved out last Friday.

“Working in partnership with the Philadelphia Housing Authority, the city of Philadelphia, the United Way, and Clarifi, a nonprofit housing and financial services counseling agency, the relocation process has successfully relocated all the residents from the 70-unit townhomes complex,” said IBID spokesperson Kevin Feeley in a statement.

Though IBID doesn’t have a developer yet, the announcement caps a yearslong fight over the 2.7-acre complex at 40th and Market Streets, which served as affordable housing in the area formerly known as Black Bottom for more than 40 years.

IBID announced in July 2021 that it would not renew its Section 8 Housing Assistance Payments contract, eyeing a sale to a developer with plans for the life-sciences real-estate market that had seen a development boom.

Gauthier placed a demolition moratorium on the property and sponsored a bill that aimed to restrict redevelopment on the block. IBID sued Gauthier and the city, arguing they had violated its constitutional right to sell the property. The parties reached an agreement in April, transferring about a fifth of the property to the city, which has plans to build “70 permanently affordable units plus community green space.”

Under the agreement, IBID would allocate roughly $50,000 to each townhome household’s relocation and housing costs. In exchange, the property will be largely exempt from inclusionary zoning overlay legislation that requires new residential buildings in the neighborhood to include affordable housing units. Gauthier, Mayor Jim Kenney, and City Solicitor Diana Cortes lauded the settlement at the time.

Read/view more here:
https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelph...es-demolition-philadelphia-20231109.html